Rebecca's Black History Month Talk on Sunday!

This Sunday, February 24, I will be giving a talk in honor of Black History Month at United Church of Christ Congregational Church in Plainfield. Those of you who know me know that I will be focusing partly on the black intellectual tradition as exemplified in the works and lives of my favorite heroes, past and present. The talk will be delivered during worship service, which begins at 10:30 am.

The church is located at 220 West 7th Street (at Madison Avenue) in Plainfield. Click here to visit the church's website. It's also "Jazz Sunday" at UCC, so come and listen to America's original musical art form! I look forward to sharing!

Best,

Rebecca

Stop the "Willie Lynch" Hoax

I felt compelled to create this photo image of the "Willie Lynch HOAX" because it ALWAYS happens--this fakery is so confoundingly simplistic--and also designed to blame black women for the condition of African Americans as a whole--it is anti-truth! What upsets me so much is that this fraud is perpetrated by individuals who refuse to read or engage primary source documents that demonstrate that the truth of America's "peculiar institution" is at least A THOUSAND TIMES WORSE. Why fake a document?

All best,

Rebecca

1913 Armory Show: "That's Not Art!"

Fin de siècle is done/
As the modernists disrupt/
Art’s “constitution.”

Today, February 17, marks the centennial of the historic 1913 Armory Show, about which former president Theodore Roosevelt ejaculated the above entitled quote in response to many works exhibited. The University of Virginia's American Studies Program has a fabulous website (with a virtual tour) dedicated to this momentous event in 20th century modern art--below is one of the paintings by American artist Kathleen McEnery Cunningham from "Gallery D." You may enter the site by clicking here.

I was in college during the "culture wars" of the 1980s--looking at this exhibit brings to mind the fact that these battles over what constitutes art continue on into the 21st century. VIVA ART!

All best,

Rebecca

 

Kathleen McEnery (Cunningham), American, 1885-1971
Going to the Bath, ca. 1905-1913. Oil on canvas, 50 1/8 x 31 3/8.